Factors influencing the fiberization and mechanical properties of polypropylene/polyamide 66 in situ composites

✍ Scribed by Wen-Yi Huang; Jing-Wei Shen; Xiao-Mei Chen; Hong-Yan Chen

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2003
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 316 KB
• Volume: 52
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0959-8103
• DOI: 10.1002/pi.1204

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

In situ composites based on immiscible polypropylene (PP)–polyamide 66 (PA66) melt blends were prepared through extrusion, drawing, quenching and then injection molding. The results show that both draw ratio (λ) and compatibilizer content (Cg) have significant influences on the PA66 fiberization and mechanical properties of the composites. PA66 fiberization in the PP matrix is realized during the melt drawing through a die. The increase in λ is favorable for fiberization of the dispersed phase, which leads to a large increment of impact strength (a~k~) and some improvement of the tensile strength (σ~t~) of the composites. Nevertheless, the elevated Cg is unfavorable for fiberization, which results in the reduction of a~k~ whereas σ~t~ is enhanced, apparently due to the improvement of interfacial adhesion. The coalescence effect of PA66 droplets during drawing plays a key role in fiberization. The σ~t~ and a~k~ of the composites are primarily dictated by the interfacial structure and fiber morphology, respectively, which determine the variation rules of these properties with λ or Cg. Copyright © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry